Morris E. Leeds (March 6, 1869 in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

– February 8, 1952) was an American electrical engineer known for his many inventions in the field of electrical measuring devices and controls.

Biography

Leeds was born in Philadelphia in 1869 to Barclay Robert and Mary (Maule) Leeds. After attending the

Westtown School Westtown School is a Quaker, coeducational, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, 20 miles west of Philadelphia. Founded in 179 ...

, he graduated with a B.S. at

Haverford College Haverford College ( ) is a private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded as a men's college in 1833 by members of the Religious Society of Fr ...

in 1888. During 1892–93, he was a graduate student in physics at the

University of Berlin The Humboldt University of Berlin (, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin, Germany. The university was established by Frederick William III on the initiative of Wilhelm von Humbol ...

. After graduation in 1888, Leeds started working in industry. By 1899, he had cofounded his own firm to manufacture electrical instruments, Morris E. Leed's & Co., where he became managing partner. In 1903, he founded a second company called Leeds & Northrup with

Edwin Fitch Northrup Edwin Fitch Northrup (born February 23, 1866 – May 13, 1940) was a professor of physics known for his contributions to the study of substances at high temperatures and electronic conductivity. He was a professor at Princeton University from 1910 ...

to manufacture electrical instruments and pyrometers. He served as president of Leeds & Northrup until 1939 and chairman of the board of directors until 1952. He was an active Orthodox Quaker all his life. Leeds was inducted into the Academy of Natural Sciences, the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...

, and the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

. He received the Edward Longstreth Medal from the

Franklin Institute The Franklin Institute is a science museum and a center of science education and research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named after the American scientist and wikt:statesman, statesman Benjamin Franklin. It houses the Benjamin Franklin ...

in 1920, the

Henry Laurence Gantt Medal The Henry Laurence Gantt Medal was established in 1929 by the American Management Association and the Management section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for "distinguished achievement in management and service to the community" in h ...

in 1936, the

ASME Medal The ASME Medal, created in 1920, is the highest award bestowed by the ASME (founded as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Board of Governors for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement". The award has been presented every year ...

in 1946, and the IEEE Edison Medal in 1948.

Patents

* US Patent No. 965.824 - recorder, 1910. * US Patent No. 1.057.416 - speed control apparatus, 1913. * US Patent No. 1.097.651 - measuring apparatus, 1914. * US Patent No. 1.125.699 - electrical recorder, 1915. * US Patent No. 1.192.911 - composite resistance, 1916. * US Patent No. 1.332.182 - automatic control, 1917

References

External links

Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leeds, Morris E. IEEE Edison Medal recipients 1869 births 1952 deaths ASME Medal recipients Members of the American Philosophical Society Engineers from Philadelphia